STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Moonlight, starring Naomi Harris and Mahershala Ali won Best Film, but not before the prize was first given in error to musical 'La La Land'

Director Barry Jenkins's American drama "Moonlight," a coming-of-age story set in the tough projects of southern Florida, won the best picture Oscar on Sunday -- but not before the prize was first erroneously given to the Hollywood musical "La La Land."

The mistake was corrected only after the producers of "La La Land" had come on stage to accept the award -- a stunning upset to Hollywood's biggest night. Hollywood legends Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were entrusted with the task of announcing the best picture award. After scrutinizing the card for some time, they handed the award to "La La Land". They realised their mistake soon enough and the team from "Moonlight" was called to accept their statuette.

Casey Affleck and Emma Stone won the best actor awards in their respective categories at the award show held in Los Angeles.

Affleck took home the golden statuette for his powerful portrayal of a man marked by tragedy in the family drama "Manchester by the Sea", beating Ryan Gosling of the musical "La La Land" as well as Andrew Garfield for "Hacksaw Ridge," Viggo Mortensen for "Captain Fantastic" and Denzel Washington for "Fences."

Emma Stone, who won the award for her role in "La La Land", was pitted against Natalie Portman (Jackie), Ruth Nega (Loving), Isabelle Huppert (Elle) and Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins)

American director Damien Chazelle became the youngest-ever filmmaker to win a Best Director Oscar for "La La Land".

In "Fences," Davis plays the wife of a bitter, frustrated garbage collector in Pittsburgh in the 1950s, who has to come to terms with the missed opportunities of his past. The film is a big screen adaptation of August Wilson's Pulitzer-winning play of the same name.

The 51-year-old, a nominee in 2009 and 2012, beat the likes of two previous Oscar winners -- Nicole Kidman ("Lion") and Octavia Spencer ("Hidden Figures") -- as well as Michelle Williams ("Manchester by the Sea") and Naomie Harris ("Moonlight").

Ali was a frontrunner for his role of the Miami drugdealer who struggles to find a place in the world in "Moonlight". The film chronicles his journey from childhood to adulthood.

A first-time nominee, the 43-year-old actor is the first Muslim film star to pick up a golden statuette.

He saw off competition from Britain's Dev Patel, veteran US actors Jeff Bridges and Michael Shannon, and newcomer Lucas Hedges.

Hollywood's who's who turned up for this year's Oscars held at the iconic Dolby Theatre.

Host Jimmy Kimmel opened the Oscars Sunday with a salvo of jokes targeting President Donald Trump.

"This broadcast is being watched live by millions of Americans and around the world in more than 225 countries that now hate us," Kimmel said.

The late-night comedian quipped that Trump, who pulled off a political upset win with his campaign that targeted immigration, had taken the heat off Hollywood and its annual gala.

"I want to say thank you to President Trump. Remember last year when it seemed like the Oscars were racist? That's gone," Kimmel said.

"Some of you will get to come up here on this stage tonight and give a speech that the president of the United States will tweet about in all caps during his 5 am bowel movement tomorrow. And I think that's pretty darn excellent, if you ask me," Kimmel said.

He also viewers from a deeply divided America to talk more to one another, and gave his quirky twist to Trump's famous campaign slogan.

"If we would all do that, we would make America great again," he said, adapting Trump's campaign slogan.

He later asked the crowd to stand for Meryl Streep, who memorably slammed Trump at the Golden Globes.

He then told the crowd, "Some of you get to come on this stage and make a speech that the President of the United States will tweet about in all caps during his 5 am bowel movement."